Recycling Projects Update

When I first started writing this blog, I mentioned some of the projects I had been working on. I thought it was time for an update.

• Styrofoam recycling signs at my local grocery store

Since the City of Austin now accepts Styrofoam for recycling, I began a campaign with my local HEB grocery store to post signs in the meat and egg sections that Styrofoam was now accepted at our Recycling and Reuse Drop-Off Center.  I chose the meat and egg sections because that is where there is a lot of Styrofoam packaging.

A request to promote my idea was sent by a City of Austin staff member to the HEB main office.  I began following up.  I would call the HEB staff person in charge and, week after week, was asked to call back.  Finally, after 3 to 4 months and 20 or more phone calls, the request was denied.  BUMMER! Above is a photo of the sign I had in mind for HEB to post.  I will not give up!

I feel public education is the key to successful recycling.  If people don’t know how to recycle, reuse or repurpose something, it goes into the garbage can and then into the landfill.

• Neighborhood collection project 

My neighborhood project to collect items that needed to go down to the Recycling and Reuse Drop-off Center in far south Austin was moderately successful.  I asked my neighbors to save their Styrofoam, batteries and light bulbs (items easy to collect and transport) and I would take them all to the recycling center.  Four neighbors brought their stuff to me.  One of them brought 3 years of batteries.  I ended up with a carload.  I will do this again later in the summer.

• Composting alert!

I learned something very alarming about composting that I want to pass along.  Animals (particularly dogs) who eat compost can have a severe allergic reaction.  This is not uncommon. The problem is a fungus that can be in decomposing objects, including compost.  Be sure your beloved pet does not have easy access to your compost.

The problems with recycling

The two main problems with recycling are not knowing how to recycle an item properly and not having a convenient way to collect recyclables at home.  Here is a wonderful web site from the City of Austin called “what do I do with.” Type in the item and you get information on how to recycle it.  Please refer to my May 6 post for “convenience ideas.”

• Future projects

My efforts will continue in public education.  One project is to help the City of Austin Resource Recovery Department keep the “what do I do with” web site as current and complete as possible.  Another project is to enlist the aid of the City’s Zero Waste Commission to get Austin’s grocery stores to post signs about Styrofoam.

Question from a reader:

Why can't we put pizza boxes into our curbside bin?

Pizza boxes are made from corrugated cardboard.  When the cardboard becomes soiled with grease, cheese or any other food, the cardboard cannot be recycled because the paper fibers in the cardboard cannot be separated from the oils during the pulping process. This makes the cardboard unrecyclable.

Some people take the clean cardboard top off and put it into the recycling bin.  That cardboard may look grease-free, but in fact it has absorbed some of the grease from a steamy hot pizza.

SPECIAL NOTE:  No matter how clean you think your pizza box is, when it goes onto the conveyor belt at the recycling plant, it gets thrown away!

I have had some wonderful questions posted on my blog.  Please feel free to post any recycling questions.  I will answer them!